Articles

Texas court confirms boundary rules that leave dry beaches in private hands

July 03, 2014 | By J. DAVID BREEMER

Today, the Texas Supreme Court issued an opinion in Porretto v. Patterson, a complicated beach takings case.  The Porrettos have owned a dry beach area in Galveston, Texas, since the 1950’s. Some of their property lies just seaward of the Galveston seawall, between the wall and the wet beach area along the Gulf of Texas.  The Porrettos h ...

Articles

The Leus' garden blooms despite legal battle

June 29, 2010 | By PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION

Author: Brian T. Hodges Shirley and Herbert Leus’ garden seems to have been all but lost to the maelstrom that took over their case, Leu v. International Boundary Commission. If you recall, this is the case where the U.S. Commissioner to the International Boundary Commission ordered retired couple Shirley and Herbert Leu to remove a … ...

Articles

Ninth Circuit to hear the case of the little garden that could (topple a federal official)

April 06, 2010 | By PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION

Author: Brian T. Hodges The Ninth Circuit set Leu v. International Boundary Commission for oral argument on May 5, 2010 in Seattle. In 2006, retired couple Shirley and Herbert Leu built a small garden retaining wall in their back yard to stop their soil from wasting into a ditch. They had no idea that they … ...